Chesnee: Economy & Jobs
Chesnee's typical household earns $37,708 (1.8× below Spartanburg County median $66,234; 1.8× below South Carolina median $69,324), with homes at a median value of $103,700. The surrounding county supports 18,064 jobs (avg $48,261).
- $54,729 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs South Carolina $75,428).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $37,708 — below the South Carolina median ($66,299). Poverty rate 32.4% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 41% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.8× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 26.7% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 40.9% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 32.4% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.3% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $24,600 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,346,339 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $54,729 (vs South Carolina $75,428) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $44,868 |
| Median Household Income | $37,708 (vs South Carolina $66,299) |
| Poverty Rate | 32.4% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | service_economy |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | working-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $37,708 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.3% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 5% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 5.1% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 18,064 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $871,781,016 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $48,261 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,222,950 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% (vs South Carolina 2.9%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 1 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 67,564 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 67,564.00 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Crop Totals, Grain, Soybeans |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 938 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 17,940 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 780,951 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 7 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 11 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 34 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 16 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 9 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 35 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 33 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (2)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Food Lion 2834 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 19 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | CHEROKEE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $378,519,752 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,733.31 (vs South Carolina $7,873) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 56,216 people (vs South Carolina 24,505) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 75.5% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 0.7% |
| Pct Walked | 5.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 41.7 years (vs South Carolina 36.9y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 29.7% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12